Braiding machine



June 2 s, 1953.

A. PETERSEN BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23 19 36 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 28, 1938. A. PETERSEN BRAIDING MACHINE v Fiied Oct. 23, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 28; 1938. A. PETERSEN 2,122,291

BRAIDING MACHINE I Filed Oct. 23, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 3 I' a? 177 6'6 56, a? ;Il C E a .20 5/" a 1210/ aff 6 374 g4 4 5 1 i 617 a 25 J7 J3 JZJ 3'96 10 z z Q 22 J I" f I I Y j .9 40 I 4.? Jj :17; i 20 J0 Z6 i A /1 I 6 a x \1' .9 a N l J /I I/ I yd? L v47 4 J fnaevzior soc .Wnker Peiemszvv E -wfl lg 28, 1938. A. PETERSEN BRAIDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f 1524226712597 flnker Peiengevv Wye.

Patented June 28, 1938 :-:2 or-rice j er Petersen, Bosto 1 s m on, Newt n, w

Joseph Application October 23,

This invention pertains to braiding chines, relating more particularly to braiding machines ofv the general type disclosed in-the patent to Petersen No. 1,796,938, dated March 17, 1931,

5 wherein a series of bobbin carriers is revolved in a circular path about the axis of the machine while a second set of carriers, disposed in a circle concentric with the first set, eitherrevolves in the opposite direction or remains stationary,-' the strands from the latter set of carriers being so controlled that each carrier of the first 'set passes alternately over and under strands'from said second set of carriers.

In the patent to Petersen, No. 2,111,639, granted March 22, 1938, there is disclosed a novel" braid comprising flat strands or ribbons of stiff resilient metal interbraided to form a tube and so closely intermeshed as to leave interstices of substantially inappreciable size at the crossings of the cornnp stituent strands. One object of the present invention is to provide a machine of commercially practical typecapable of making such a braid as that disclosed in the above patent.

A further object is to provide a braiding machine capable of braiding other materials than metallic ribbons, for example, textile strandsyin particular heavy strands, for instance ten-cord cotton threads, rope-yarns or the like in such 'a manner as to make a braid, either with or without a core, wherein the constituent strands are packed more closely and solidly together than has heretofore been considered possible.

In machines designed formaking' such a close braid as that Just referred to. particularly when the strands employed are heavy or otherwise intractable, the problem of driving the carriers at the requisite speed for commercial production and at the necessary uniformity of velocity, but without development of undue friction and demand for excessive power in driving the machine, is exceedingly difficult, and the present invention has for a further object the provision of improved .means for supporting, guiding and driving the carriers such that friction is reduced to a minimum, with consequent reduction in power re-'- quired to drive the apparatus, and whereby great acuracy and uniformity in the driving of the carriers is assured regardless of the weight of the carriers or the tension which it may be necessary to impose upon the individual strands.

In the attempt to interbraid strands to form a firm close braid, devoid of interstices of substantial size, it has heretofore been proposed to employ either a stationary guide ring or cone ,con-

centric with the braiding die and over which the 1936, Eerial N0. 1073M! I merging strands pass on their way to the braiding point, or to use mechanically actuated beat ers for beating up the strands after the manner, of the operation of the lay of a loom, but both of such eients increase the power required and neither, it is believed, is dependable for obtaining the-desired results, especially when the strands are of stiff resilient. material or otherwise intractable, for example, byreason of size.

After long experiment it has-now been discovcred that the desired close texture may be obtained without recourse to such prior expedients v as above referred to, and that-it is possible, by

proper relative disposition of the carriers and the braiding die, to deliver the strands directly from the carriers of one set to the braiding point without substantially deflecting them from a straight path and without causing them to contact with ,or be contacted by interposed mechanical elements, but at the same time to ensure such closeness of texture as has not heretofore been attainable by machine methods of braiding. It is accordingly a further object of the invention to provide a machine embodying such discovery.

, In high speed braiding machines such as that 25 to which the present invention is related it is promptly whenever the strand is exhausted from any bobbin regardless of the character of the strand employed, but which will not operate until substantially all of the strand of material has been drawn oil from the bobbin.

In braiding close textured material such as that above referred to, it is quite essential that the velocity of the take-up of the completed braid be accurately'predeterminable with reference to the velocity of revolution of the carriers and also with respect to the size and character of the strand material being used, and with this in view a further object of the invention is to provide improved take-up means which may be driven at an accurate speed ratio with reference to the velocity of revolution of the carriers but with provision whereby said speed ratio may readily be, changed at will.

A further object is to provide for accurate ad- 55 jus'tment of the parts and take-up of lost motion between the drive elements for the carriers and to provide improved means for guiding the strands from the second set of carriers so as to reduce friction to a minimum and to ensure a constant tension. A further object is to provide releasable bobbin-retaining means of improved type readily manipulable in introducing or removing a bobbin, but which is dependable to hold the bobbin in place during normal operation of the machine.

. Other objects and advantages of theinvention will be pointed out in the following more de-.

tailed description and by referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved machine, certain parts being broken away and others,

omitted or indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan. view, partly in horizontal section, illustrating the relative arrangement of thetwo sets of carriers and the strand manipulating levers for the upper set of carriers, together with certain elements of the stop mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section with certain parts omitted and others broken away,

- the section being in a radial plane of the machine, and illustrating the means for supporting viewedfrom its outer end;

and driving the carriers;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a bobbin of improved type designed in particular for use with the improved stop. mechanism herein disclosed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of one of the carriers of the upper set, showing certain details of the stop mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary'diagrammatic plan view, partly in horizontal section and with many parts omitted, but illustrating the arrangement of the carrier drive shafts and the relation of the carriers thereto;

Fig. 7 is .a fragmentary side elevation, to

larger scale. partly in vertical section, showing a portion of the take-up driving mechanism as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation, to large scale, showing details of the stop mechanism as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an elevation ofone ofthe carriers of the lower set removed from the machine and tances apart, the base being provided with tip-- wardly directed posts 3 which may be integral with the base, if desired, but which are here shown as separate parts bolted to the base. These posts 3 support a spider 4 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).

having a hub 5 at its center and provided'with .an annular rim-6 forming-a support for a cam ring-l. The cam 'ring' 'I may be secured to the rim 6 of the spider by means of bolts 8 (with interposed shims,'if desired) whereby thecam ring may be accurately leveled. This cam ring has an upwardly directedflange 3, preferably inclined to the vertical at an angle of the order Its inner peripheral surface is provided witha -cam groove II for the actuation of the wardly directed bracket but showing strand guiding-fingers or levers as is common in machines of this general type.

The base member I is also provided with posts H and I2 which support a. transverse rail or bridge member I3 (Fig. 1) which carries a down- I4 having clamping means l5 at its lower end for fixedly but adjustably positioning a tubular die holder IS within the lower end of which the braiding die- I! is secured.

I Within the hub 5 of the supporting spider is fixedly secured a vertical shaft I8 (Fig. 3) axially aligned with the axis of the braiding die I! and which, if desired, may be tubular, particularly when the braided material isgto include a core strand or the like. This shaft I8 is fixed within the'hub 5 of the spider in any suitable way, for example, by splitting the hub and drawing it together about the shaft by means of bolts (not shown), the upper end IQ of the shaft l8 being spaced below the lower end I1 of the'braiding die, such lower end ofthe die substantially defining the-braiding point.

The inner element 20 (Fig. 3) of an antifrictionball bearing rests upon the upper surface of the hub 5 and preferably is splined or other--' wise secured to the shaft l8. Above this inner member 20 of the lower ball race is a spacer ring 2| upon which rests the inner element 22 of another anti-friction hearing which in turn supports a spacer sleeve 23 onwhich rests the inner element 24 of another anti-friction bearing, the members 22 and 24 beinglikewise splined or otherwise secured to the shaft I8.

The hub 25 of a gear .26 is splined to the outer element Mi of the lower anti-friction bearing and may be adjusted vertically with respect to' the member 20 by means of a plate 21 secured to the upper end of the hub and overlying the member 20,-a suitable shim 28 being interposed between the plate 27 and the hub. The gear 26 is furnished with a downwardly directed annular flange 29 to which is bolted the inner edge of an annular gear 33. s

The hub 38 of a carrier support 312 is splined to the outer members 22 and 24 of the middle and upper anti-friction bearings above described, being vertically adjustable with respect to said inner bearing elements by means of an overlying plate 33 bolted to the hub, with an adjusting shim 3d interposed between the plate and the hub.

The carrier support 32 is furnished with a peripheral substantially vertical rim or flange 35 having a circumferential groove 36 in its inner surface, said groove opening inwardly toward the axis of the machine. The support 32 also carries a ring 31, preferably adjustable circumferentially as by means of bolts 31- and slots 3! (Fi 2),

and having a rim 38 provided with'a circumferential groove 39 in its outer periphery, said groove opening outwardly from the axis of the machine, the grooves 36 and 39 constituting concentric guideways or. tracks for the carriers C of the respectively, and having a' sprocket wheel '44 ,carrier drive shafts 55 (Figs. 3 and 6).

base member I, said shaft having fixed to it a gear 52 which meshes with the annular gear 30. a pulley 48 is secured to the shaft 41 and receives an endless drive belt 4'9 which may be driven by any suitable source of power, but which is here shown as embracing a pulley 50 on the shaft of an electric motor 5| mounted on the base I.

Thecarrier support 32 is also provided with a downwardly directed annulus 53. and with a' downwardly directed lip 54 forming a part of. its

outer flange 35, said annulus 53-and the lip 5tbeing provided with recesses for the reception of pairs of anti-friction bearings within which turn These drive shafts, as illustrated in Fig. 6, radiate from the axis of the machine, being spaced substantially equal distances apart circumferentially of the machine. The machine is illustrated as having sixteen such carrier drive shafts. It is to be understood, however, that the number of these drive shafts may be varied as circumstances may indicate to be desirable. Each of these carrier drive shafts is furnished at its inner end with a pinion 56, all of such pinions constantly meshing with the driving gear 26 above referred to. At the outer end of each shaft 55 there is secured a carrier driving pinion 51, the purpose of which is hereinafter more fully described.

Each of the carriers 0 (Fig. 9) compriseaan open rigid frame 58 provided at its inner end with anti-friction bearings for a guide roll 59 (Figs. 2 and 3) turning in a horizontal plane and which runs in the guide groove 39 of the ring 37. At its outer end each of the carriers C is furnished with a pair of rolls 6!! also turning in a horizontal plane and which run in the guide groove 3% of the upstanding flange 35 of thecarrier support 32. These rolls tll bear against the substantially vertical outer wall of the groove 38 and thus oppose the centrifugal force which tends to cause 1 the carriers to bear with substantial pressure against the flange 35. At the same time, the upper walls of the grooves 38 and 39 so confine the carrier rolls,59, and Bil that the carriersjare with at least one of the driving pinions M. The

length of the rack is such that several teeth of the rack are still in position for operative engage ment with one of the pinions bi when the advancing end of the rack comesinto engagement with the driving pinion of the next successive drive shaft 55, so that the'carriers ,are.always under positive control and can. neither move forwardly nor backwardly at a-speed difierent from that imposed by the drive pinions 61. However, these racks are short enough so that there is always a space between the'ends of successive carrierracks through which the strands from the other series of carriers may pass during the operation of the machine as hereafter described.

The frame of each of the carriers C is provided with hearing supports for. the reception of the shaft or spindle 83-01 a strand-supporting spool or bobbin 64 (Fig'. .4). upon which the strand material may be wound. Each carrier is also furnished with strand tensioning means 05 (Fig. 3) such, for example, as spring fingers which rest upon the mass of strand material on the spool and v which exert a substantially uniform tensioning effect upon the strand material as the' latter is drawn oil? from the spool. Such a tensioning means is more fully disclosed .in the patent to Petersen No. 1,526,087, dated February 10, 1925. Each carrier also preferably is furnished with a detector finger 66 (Figs. 2 and 3) designed to respond to exhaustion of the strand material mechanism hereinafter more fully described. The detector or feeler finger 66 preferably is secured to a shaft 61 (Figs. 2 and 9) mounted in bearings in the carrier frame so as to lie substantially parallel to the bobbin spindle, such shaft being provided with a. coil spring dd so designed as to tend to turn the detector finger $6 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.

Mounted upon the upper edge of'the rim 3% of the carrier support is a second set of carriers D. Each of these carriers preferably comprises a frame 69 having spaced end'members id and 10 (Figs. 3 and 5), each of said end members having an open ended slot or recess ii for the mounted a spool or bobbin ltdesigned to hold the strand material, these bobbins or spools being like the bobbins fit above described,- if desired. For retaining the bobbin spindles in pcsitibn, each of the end members iii and ii of the frame preferably has secured thereto a substantially flat or leaf spring it fixedly attached at its end 15 to the corresponding member of the frame and extending substantially in alignment with the depth of the slot 1! with its free end directed toward the slot. At its free and each spring is preferably furnished with a gate member or abutment it which normally stands opposite to and substantially closes the entrance to the corresponding slot ii. the direction of the depth of the slot, each spring normally forms a substantially rigid abutment '15 Y .from the bobbin and thereby to actuate stop 7 30 reception of a spindle or shaft upon which is Since these springs extend in preventing accidental escape of the'bobbin spindie from the slots H, but by bending the spring downwardly, the entrance to the slot is left freely open so that the bobbin spindle may readily be removed. It is to be understood that the carriers C of the other set may be furnished with bobbin holding and retaining devices similar to those just described.

Each of the carriers D is also preferably fur nished with a detector or feeler comprising a shaft -78 (Figs. 2 and 5) having a spring lid which tends to turn the finger it, upwardly or counter.- clockwise as viewed in Fig. 5. The finger it is designed normally to engage the strand material wound upon the spool 18. such detector cooperating with the stop mechanism as hereinafter more fully described.

The frame of the carrier D is furnished with upwardly directed members ti and 8t", respectively (Fig. 3). providing bearings for a strand guiding roll 32; The axis of this roll preferably is parallel tothat of the spool 13 and the roll is'crowned or convex in longitudinal cross section,'whereby strand material from the spool,

. passing over this roll under tension, tends always to move toward the central portion of the roll 70 is of more or less barrel-shape, that is to say, it

and to leave the roll from substantiallythe same point, regardless of whether the strand is drawn off from the end of the spool or from the central part of the latter.

The flange 35 of the carrier support 82 is provided with a plurality of brackets 83 (Figs. 2 and 3) spaced at uniform distances apart about its circumference, such brackets being provided with bearings for shafts 83 (Fig. 3) which form pivotal supports or fulcrums for strand guiding levers 88. These shafts 83 are inclined upwardly and inwardly so that their axes converge substantially at the braiding point, the parts preferaly being so arranged that the axis of any one of the shafts 84, thus extended, intersects the circular path in which the axes of the spools 64 of the carriers C travel. Thus the extended axes of the shafts 84 make an angle of the order of 8 with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the machine.

Adjacent to each bracket 83, a second bracket.

85 (Fig. 2) is secured to the flange 35 of the carrier support, and each of these brackets 85 is provided with a stub shaft on which turns a strand guiding pulley 86. These stub shafts are so arranged that .the pulleys 88 turn in planes which are substantially parallel to the axes of the guide rolls 82 and are so disposed that strand material, leaving from a point near the center of a guide roll 82 of a given carrier D, is delivered tangentially from the roll 82 into the plane of the corresponding pulley 88, it being noted that the carriers D are not disposed radially of the machine, but are so arranged that the v axis of each roll 82 is in a vertical plane parallel to the vertical plane of the face of the corresponding pulley 86, while the groove in the pulley 88 is in a vertical plane substantially tangent to the surface of the roll 82.

Each of the strand guide levers 88 is furnished I at an intermediate point with a cam follower (not shown) which runs in the cam groove 18,

' and is provided near its free end with a strand guiding pulley 81, preferaly turning on antifriction bearings and with its axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the corresponding shaft 83 The pulleys 87 are so arranged, relatively to the corresponding pulleys 88, that strand material leaving the pulley 88 will extend in a straight line into the plane of the pulley 81. The flange 35 of the carrier support is furnished with slots 88 (Fig. 2) and the ring 31 is furnished with corresponding slots 88 radially aligned with the slots 88 and so disposed that strand material, leaving (me, of the pulleys 87, may pass radially 'inwardtoward the braiding point through the-slots 88 and 89 without contact with the flange 35 or the ring 81. v

In accordance with the present invention, the braided material which forms at the braiding point is drawn upwardly through the braiding die and throughthe tubular support I6 and is tensioned by passing over a take-up drum 88.

(Fig. 1). This drum 88 is mounted to turn on v a shaft 9| carried by a bracket 82 supported" by the bridge-member I3, the drum having secured "thereto a gear '93 which meshes with a gear 94 fast to a drum turning on a shaft mounted in bearings in a bracket 85 depending from the bridge member I3. The gear '84, in turn, meshes with 'a gear 86 fast to a drum turning on a shaft carried by a bracket 91 mounted on ithe bridge member I8,\ the gears 98, 8|, and

88 all beingof the same diameter. The gear 88 meshes with a small pinion 98 on a shaft, also supported by the bridge member, to which is secured a sprocket wheel 99 about which passes an endless sprocket chain I88. This sprocket chain leads downwardly toward the base of the machine where it passes around a second sprocket wheel I81, mounted on a shaft I82 (Fig. 1) turning in a bracket I88 (Fig. 7) secured to the base member A gear I88 is fixed to the shaft I82 and meshes with a gear I85 turning on a stud carried by an arm I86 arranged to swing about the axis of the shaft I82. This gear I85 meshes with a gear I8'I (Fig. 1) on a shaft I88, turning in bearings in the bracket I83, the gear I81 being a change gear and being splined to the shaft so that it may readily be removed and exchanged for a gear of different pitch diameter, the mounting of the gear I85 on the arm I86 permitting such-exchange of gears at will. On the shaft I88 (Fig. 7) is fixed a worm gear I88 which meshes with a worm H8 on a vertical shaft I I I to which is secured a sprocket wheel II2 about which passes a sprocket chain I I3 engaging a sprocket wheel I I8 (Fig. l) on the shaft 43. Thus the take-up drum is positively driven at a definite speed. ratio relatively to the speed of the'carrier driving mechanism above described.

Referring to Fig. 4, which as above noted illustrates one of the strand carrying spools'or bobbins, it is preferred to employ a spool having a barrel 68 of substantial diameter, with a spindle extending axially from end to end of the barrel although, if preferred, this spindle may take the form of short trunnions projecting from the ends of the barrel. Preferably the spool also has disklike heads 84 at its ends, although it is to be understood that for certain purposes the strand maybe wound upon a barrel or core unprovided with heads.

Preferably the barrel is provided with a slot or groove I I5 at a point substantially'midway its ends, although the exact location'is not important. This groove or slot is inclined and of more or less helical form, the inclination or slope of the helix being such that when strand material is wound upon the barrel, according to the chosen method of winding, the wrappings of the strand which lie in contact with the barrel will bridge the slot or recess 5, the pitch of the windings of the strand being substantially different from the slope of the slot. ,This slot or recess H5 is designed to receive the end of the feeler or detector finger above referred to, when the strand material is exhausted from the bobbin barrel and thus no longer bridges the recess H5.

Referring to Fig. 5, in which the detector device for one of the carriers D is more specifically illustrated, it may be noted that the shaft I8, which carries the detector or feeler finger I9, is

furnished with an arm II8 disposed at the outer side of the carrier frame. This arm is arranged to swing in the plane of a normally upstanding arm I I! of a bell crank lever mounted to turn on a stub shaft III projecting from the end of the frame and having a second arm II8 which pro- Jects outwardly beyond the flange 35 of the carrier support. As above referred to, a spring 88.

turns and brings the arm, 8 into contact with the arm 1 or the bellcrank lever, thus rocking the latter and lifting the arm II8 into the path. of the stop motion mechanism about to be dewhich is conveniently fixed to the post I2. The

support I2I (Fig. 8) is furnished with upstanding bearing members for a' shaft I22 on which is mounted a rocker I23. This rocker is furnished with oppositely directed stop lugs I26 and I24 for limiting its swinging movement and, if desired; may be furnished with a handle I225 at its upper end whereby it may be manually actuated.

At .its outer end the shaft member Ils is furnished with a downwardly directed arm IN (Fig. 8) having a pin I26 which is disposed between a pair of spaced, upstanding spring arms I21 and I21, respectively, which'tend to hold the pin I26 at a'central normal position with the arm H9 substantially vertical.

Between the arm I25 and the bearing in which the shaft I I9 turns, the shaft is furnished with a normally vertical flat portion which normally engages the hook-like end I28 of a latch I29 pivotally secured at I20 to the rocker I22. A spring I22 (Fig. 8) embraces the shaft I22'and tends to swing the rocker I23 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in' Fig. 8, but such movement is v normally opposed by the engagement of the end I28 of the latch with the fiat face of the shaft I I9. However. if the shaft be rocked. even to a slight extent. the flat face of the shaft actsas a cam to lift the latch I29. thus releasing it and allowing the rocker I23 to swing to the left (Fig. 8). When the rocker I22 thus swings. a

toe member Idl, carried by the rocker, is brought into engagement with a. circuit breakinr. lever I22 which. upon being lifted. breaks an electrical circuit comprising the conductors I22 and lid which supply current to the motor BI.

Referring to Fig. 3, the numeral I32 designates a lever arm which is normally substantially ver-' tical and just within the inner surface of the flange 35 of the carrier support. This lever arm ismounted upon a shaft Iiltarranged to turn freely in a bearing carried by the flange 2d. the

shaft having an' arm I81 (Fig. 2) normally disposed in a more or less horizontal plane and in such a position that as the carrier support revolves, the arm passes beneath the depending stop motion lever arm H9.

As above described; each of the carriers C is furnished with a detector or feeler finger 63 and,

it being understood that the spools employed in both the carriers D and C are of substantially the same type and all provided with the detector slots H or their equivalent. it will be evident that when the strand material is exhausted from the spool of one of the carriers C the corresponding detector finger 26 will be urged by the spring the arm Hid-as the carrier 0 revolves in its orbit, thus turning the arm I85 and swinging the arm;

Ill into an upright position so that it will con-.

' tact the arm. Hoof the stop motion-mechanism as the carrier support 35 rotates, thus swinging .on the bobbin to the braiding point.

When this tail portiori' stopping the machine. A suitable spring is arranged to return the shaft I88 to its normal po-' sition after it has thus been actuated by one 'of'the detector fingers.

As above noted, when the strand material is exhausted from one of the spools of the carriers D,

the corresponding lever arm III! is lifted into the planeof the lever I I9, so that as the carrier support I25 rotates, the arm II8 will strike the arm H9, thus also releasing the latch I29 to stop the machine.

The braided material is drawn ofi by thetakeup drums in an upward direction from the braiding point at the lower end of the die I! and the dieis so located that strand material from the carriers C extends in a freeunobstructed run without contact with any other mechanical part from its point of tangency with the strand mass This straight, unobstructed run preferably makes an angle of approximately 8 with the horizontal, that late say, approximately 98 with the axis of the formed braid as the latter is drawn off by the take-up. While this angle may doubtless has been found after much experiment, that if the strands'from the carriers C are thus permitted to extend in free runs out of contact with any mechanical part which might deflect them or impart frictional resistance and at an angle of the order of 8 as they approach the braiding point, it is possible to braid the material much more closely and to' form a. more dense braided structure than has heretofore been thought possible. It is further to be noted that this is accomplished without recourse to any guiding elements adjacent the braiding point or to'the use of such devices asbeaters or the likedesigned to compact the material.

' t In a copending application it has been described how strand material, such for example as resilient steel ribbon, may be braided to form a tubular.

braid wherein the interstices between the strands at their crossing points are extremely small, for example, of the order of 5 of an inch in area, and such that the tubular'braided sheath thus made will successfully support a lining of rubber or the like against an internal pressure.

of the order of'20,000 pounds per square inch; The present machine is eminently well suited for making such a metallic tube and has been successfully used for this purpose, but it is likewise well adaptedfor braiding other materials than .steel ribbon whereby to produce a braided structure which is extremely dense and close. In re-- ferring to metal ribbon, it is intended to include under this term a flat ribbon-like strand whether integral, that is to say, of one piece of metal, or formed of a plurality of fine wires, for example, laid side by side in the same plane so as collectively to form a ribbon-like strand.

as above suggested, but whether or not this theory is the correct one, it is nevertheless true that the mechanism here mentioned. is capable of producing braid having the characteristics mentioned. It is further to be noted that the various stresses acting on the carriers of the set p are adequately met by the means provided for guiding and supporting these carriers and that every provision has been made for reducing friction to a minimum, this being of great importance when the machine is designed for the braiding of heavy materials where the machine must necessarily be of large diameter and where the weight of the carriers and the material upon the bobbins is so large that centrifugal force is an important factor to he considered in the machine design.

In the machine as above described, the ratio of the speeds of the shafts 43 and 41 is as 132 /2 and the pitch diameters of the gears 28, 4| and 56 are so chosen that while the carrier support 35 turns in one direction at a given predetermined angular velocity, the carriers C are impelled in the opposite direction along the guide grooves 38 and 39 at substantially -the same absolute angular velocity. Since these carriers C are positively controlled as to their movements by the engaging rack segments 62 and the drive pinions 51, they are caused to move at an exact prede-. termined angular velocity so that no matter how heavy the bobbin or what the tension imposed upon the strand material, the movement of the carriers of the two sets C and D will always be properly correlated and the strands of the two sets will meet at the braiding point always at the same angles of intersection.

In Figs. 10- and 11" other modes of supporting the carriers C are illustrated, these arrangements being such as more fully described in Petersen Patent No. 1,796,938 above referred to, the parts 35 35 38 38*; 9* and 9*, corresponding to the parts 35, 38 and 9 above described.

In the above description reference has at times been made to the axis of the machine as vertical" and the position of parts relative to this axis has been described with respect to such a vertical axis. However, it is to be noted that by reason of the mounting of the carriers C it is possible to operate the machine with its axis in any desired position, for example, horizontal, such position sometimes being desirable if themachine be intended for covering a core material which is stiff or intractable and diiiicult to draw upwardly in a vertical direction.

As above noted, the shaft i8 which supports the rotating parts of the machine preferably is hollow and designed to accommodate core material T (Fig. 1) which may be drawn oil? from any suitable source of supply such, for example, as a spool or bobbin S, it being understood that any number of independent core strands may be supplied, as desired.

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have been suggested and while materials suitable for the purpose have been mentioned, and while certain relative arrangements of parts have been specifically described by way of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the precise details but is to be regarded as broadly inclusive of all equivalents which fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a braiding machine of the kind wherein carriers revolve in a circular orbit about the axis of a braiding die, a rotary support having concentric annular guidewaysfor the carriers. each carrier having anti-friction rolls engaging the respective guideways, a segmental rack secured to each carrier, said support also having bearings for a plurality of radially extending carrier drive shafts, carrier drive shafts arranged to turn in said bearings, said shafts each having a carrier drive pinion constructed and arranged to mesh with the segmental racks secured to the respeccarriers are positively revolved in one direction and the carrier support turns in the opposite direction at substantially the same angular velocity.

'2. In a braiding machine of the kind in which a rotary annular carrier support has bobbin carriers fixed thereto, and means defining a pair of radially spaced opposed coaxial grooves adapted respectively to receive the inner and outer ends of bobbin carriers, carriers movable along said grooves, means forimpelling said carriers along the grooves comprising a drive gear coaxial with the support, an annular gear of larger diameter secured to the drive gear, a second annular gear of the same diameter as the latter secured to the carrier supporting annulus, and means for turning said annular gears at an accurately predetermined angular velocity ratio.

3. In a braiding machine of the kind in which a rotary annular carrier support has bobbin carriers fixed thereto, and means defining a pair of radially spaced opposed coaxial grooves adapted respectively to receive the inner and outer ends of bobbin carriers, carriers movable along said grooves. each said carrier having a segmental rack secured thereto, bearings supporting-a plurality of radial carrier drive shafts disposed below the path of the movable carriers and each having a pair of pinions, one pinion of each pair being arranged for engagement with the carrier racks. a drive gear coaxial with the annular support and always meshing with the other'pinion of each pair, annular gears secured to the annular support and to said drive gear respectively, pinions meshing with said annular gears, shafts on which said pinions are mounted, and positive drive connections between said shafts operative to turn them at a constant predetermined angular velocity.

4. A braiding machine of the class described, comprising a rotary support and means for rotating it, two sets of bobbin carriers mounted on the support, the carriers of one set being fixed to the support, the support being provided with radially spaced coaxial guides defining an annular path for the bobbin carriers of the other set, driving means for the carriers of said latter set including a gear segment on each carrier and a series of radially arranged drive shafts mounted in bearings carried by the support, an annular .gear coaxial with the support, pinions upon the several drive shafts which always mesh with said gear, and means for turning the annular gear at an angular velocity such that the carriers of the last-named set revolve oppositely to the carrier support and at substantially the same angular velocity as the latter. Y

5. A braiding machine of the kind in which a rotary support, carrying a series of bobbin carriers, is provided with means defining a pair of radially spaced coaxial guideways a second series of carriers disposed between said guideways and each having supporting elements at its inner and outer ends which engage the inner and outer guideways respectively, each .of said latter carriers having a segmental rack, the support havnig bearings for a series of radial drive shafts, a pinion on each shaft for engagement with the carrier racks, a gear coaxial with the support but independent 01' the latter, pinions upon the. pulley, is directed in a substantially radial path several drive shafts which always mesh with said gear, and means tor relatively turning the support and gear at such angular velocities as to cause the carriers tomove along the guideway with an angular velocity equal to that of the annular support but in the opposite direction.

7 6. In a braiding machine of the kind wherein two sets of bobbin carriers revolve in circular orbits in relatively opposite directions about a common axis and in which cam-actuated strand guiding levers so position the strands from the carriers of one set that the carriers of the second set pass alternately over and under strands from the first set, in combination, a rotatable support comprising an annular rim upon which the carriers of the first set are fixedly secured. pivotal means, mounted upon the outer side of said rim, for the strand guide levers, said rim having a circumferential groove in its inner surface -i'or guiding the outer ends of the carriers of the second set, a ring normally fixed to the support and having a circumierentially extending groove for guiding the inner ends of the carriers oi the latter set, the rim and ring having slots for the t: of the strands from the carriers'oi the first set, said ring having arcuate grooves for the reception of bolts uniting it to the support and permitting circumferential adjustment of the ring relatively to the support, pairs of radially spaced bearings carried by the support, a carrier drive shaft turning in each pair of bearings, each shaft having a pinion at its outer end for engagement with racks secured to the carriers oi the latter set, drive pinions' at the inner ends of said shafts,

a gear which meshes with the latter drive pinions, and means for relatively turning the support and gear in the same direction but at different angular velocities.

7. In a braiding machine of the kind in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being aiilxed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strand guiding levers, one for each of its carriers, 2. braiding die defining the braiding point, and means supporting the other set of carriers to move in a circular orbit in a plane below that of the braiding point, characterized in that each of the guide levers swings about anaxis making'an angle of the order of 8 with the vertical and which substantially intersects the braiding point andcarries' a freely rotatable strand guide pulley adjacent to its free end, said pulley turning about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the lever, andmeans operative to lead a strand from the corresponding carrier to said guide pulley.

8. In a braiding machine for braiding flat ribbon-like strands and wherein two sets of bobbin carriers revolve in circular'orbits in relatively opposite directions about a common axis and in which cam-actuated strand guiding levers so position the strands from the carriers of one set 7 that. the carriers of the other set pass alternately over and under strands from the first set, and wherein a rotary support for one set of carriers has elongate slots for the passage of the strands from said carriers, in combination, an anti-friction guide pulley adjacent to the end of each strand guiding lever, each guide pulley having a substantially flat peripheral race of a width sumcient to accommodate the flatstrand material and each such pulley being so arranged that a strand from the corresponding carrier, about the flat face of said anti-friction guide through the corresponding slot in the support.

9. In a braiding machine of the kind wherein two sets of bobbin carriers revolve in circular orbits in relatively opposite directions about a common axis and in which cam-actuated strand guidinglevers so position the strands from the carriers of one set that the carriers of the second set pass alternately over and under strands from the first set, in combination, a rotatingsupport having an annular rim, means-securing the carriers of one set to said rim, means pivotally attaching the guide levers to said rim, the rim having a circumferentially extending groove in its inner surface, aringv concentric with and adjustably attached to the support, said ring having a peripheral groove, the walls of said grooves constituting guiding and retaining means for the carriers of the other set, the rim and ring having radially aligned slots for the passage of strands from the first set of carriers, and means for. rotating the support. 7

10. In a braiding machine of the kind in which two sets'of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being afllxed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strand guiding levers, one foreach of its carriers, and a strand guide adjacent to the fulcrum of each lever, characterized in that each of the latter carriers has a strand guiding roll which is so crowned that a strand passing over the roll on its way from the carrier to the corresponding strand guide tends always to leave the roll at approximately the same point.

11. In a braiding machine 'of the kind in which two sets of carriers for spool-like bobbins relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being affixed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally. supported strand guiding levers, one for each of its carri ers, each of the guide levers being arranged to swing about an axis which substantially intersects the braiding point, characterized in that two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being amxed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strand guiding levers, one for each of its carriers, and wherein a strand guide pulley is arranged adjacent to the fulcrum oieach lever, characterized in that each carrier of the latter set has an elongate strand support and an elongate strand guide roll disposed with their axes'substantially parallel, the guide roll being so constructed and arranged that the strand tends to leave the roll always at substantially the same point and substantially in the plane of rotationci the guide pulley regardless of where the strand leaves the support.

7 13. In a braiding machine of the kind in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one setvers, one for" each of its carriers, characterized in that each of the latter carriers has a strand guiding roll of substantially barrel-shape over which the strand from the carrier passes on its way to the corresponding guide lever.

14. In a braiding machine of the kind in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being .aiiixed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strand guiding levers, one for each of its carriers, characterized in that each of the guide levers is arranged to swing about an axis which substantially inter-' sects the axis of the machine at the braiding point, each lever having a strand guide pulley adjacent to its free end arranged to turn about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the lever, a strand guide pulley adjacent to the ful- 15. In a braiding machine of the. kind in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being aflixed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strandguiding levers, one for each of its carriers, and strand guiding pulleys each turning about an axis adjacent to the fulcrum of one of the levers respectively, characterized in that each carrier of the last-named set has a strand guiding roll whose axis is in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis oi the corresponding guide pulley, said roll being so crowned that a strand from the carrier, in passing over the roll on its way to the guide pulley, tends always to leave the roll at substantially the same point. 16. In a braiding machine of the kind in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being aflixed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strandguiding levers, one for each of its carriers, and wherein a strand guide pulley is arranged to turn about a stub shaft supported by the annulus at a point adjacent to the'i'ulcrum of each lever, character-- ized in that each carrier comprises means for supporting an elongate spool for strand material,

the axis of the spool being in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the machine, and an-elongate crowned strand guide roll, the axesohthe spool and roll being substantially parallel, the carrier being so disposed upon the annulus that the strand extending from the spool and over the roll leaves the latter substantially in the plane of rotation of the pulley.

17. In a braiding machine for braiding flat ribbon-like strand material and in which two sets of bobbin carriers relatively revolve in opposite directions about a common axis, one set of carriers being aflixed to a rotating annulus carrying pivotally supported strand guiding levers, one for each of its carriers, characterized in that each of the guide levers is arranged to swing about an axis which makes an angle of the order of 98 with the axis of the machine and which passes through the braiding point, each lever having a strand guide pulley adjacent to its free end, each said pulley having a substantially flat face and turning about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the lever, and a flat faced strand guide pulley adjacent to the fulcrum of each lever and arranged to turn upon a stub shait projecting from the outer periphery of the annulus and at such an angle that the plane of the pulley is substantially tangent to the guide pulley at the end of the corresponding lever.

18. In a braiding machine for braiding flat ribbon-like strand material, said machine being of the kind wherein two sets of bobbin carriers revolve in circular orbits in relatively opposite directions about a common vertical axis, and in which cam-actuated strand guiding levers so position the strands from the carriers of one set that the carriers of the second set pass alternately over and under strands from the first set, each in a free and unobstructed path and out of con--' tact with any mechanical element from the bobbin to the braiding die, said paths each making an angle of the order of 98 with the axis of the formed braid as the latter is drawn oil? through the braiding die.-

ANKER PETERSEN. 

